Chapter 45

Chapter 45

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Chapter 45

Jinlan's Bond: A Mutual Outpouring of Sisters' Hearts

A Stormy Evening: Composing Verses Amid Wind and Rain

Xifeng was consoling Pinger when the other young ladies arrived in a group. She quickly offered them seats while Pinger poured tea.

"What a punctual gathering!" Xifeng laughed. "It's as if I'd sent out formal invitations."

Tanchun replied with a smile, "We've come about two matters—one concerns me, the other our Fourth Sister, and there's something Grandmother wants too."

"What could be so urgent?" Xifeng asked.

"We've started a poetry club," Tanchun explained. "The very first meeting fell apart because everyone was too soft-hearted to enforce the rules. We need you to serve as our Inspector of Rectitude—someone who won't show favoritism. Also, Fourth Sister needs various supplies for painting the garden, and Grandmother said there might still be some old materials in the back building. She told us to look for them, and if we can't find any, to have someone buy them."

"I can't write poetry, wet or dry," Xifeng laughed. "Are you asking me to just eat?"

"You don't have to write," Tanchun said. "Just keep an eye out for anyone shirking their duties and make sure they're properly punished."

Xifeng laughed, "Don't try to fool me. I've figured it out—you're not really asking me to be an Inspector. You want me to be your copper merchant, your source of funds. This poetry club means taking turns hosting, and your monthly allowances aren't enough. So you've cooked up this scheme to twist my arm and get money from me. Am I right?"

Everyone burst out laughing.

Li Wan said, "Truly, you have a crystal heart and a glass mind—nothing escapes you."

"And you're supposed to be an elder sister-in-law!" Xifeng shot back. "The young ladies were entrusted to you to teach them proper conduct, needlework, and learning. When they misbehave, you're supposed to counsel them. Now they've started a poetry club and need a modest sum, and you won't help? Never mind Grandmother and Lady Wang—they're the old matriarchs. You receive ten taels a month, twice what we get. Grandmother and Lady Lady Wang say you're a widow with no livelihood, pitiable and short of funds, and with a son to boot, so they've added another ten taels, putting you on equal footing with them. They've also given you garden land to collect rent from, and at year's end you receive the highest share of the annual distribution. You and your son, masters and servants together—not even ten people—still eat and wear what the household provides. All told, you have four or five hundred taels a year. If you contribute one or two hundred taels annually to keep them amused, how many years will that last? Once they're all married off, surely you won't be expected to reimburse anyone? Now you're afraid of spending money and sending them to pester me—you'd happily watch me drain every river and empty every sea, and I'd never even know it!"

Li Wan laughed, "Listen to her! I said one word and she's gone raving, spouting two cartloads of shameless, vulgar, penny-pinching talk. This creature—born into a distinguished family of scholars and officials, raised as a young lady, and now married into the same—and still behaving like this! If she'd been born into a poor household and raised as a boy, God knows what low, foul-mouthed wretch she'd have become! She'd calculate the whole world into her pocket! And just yesterday she struck Pinger—how could she lift her hand to do it? Did she pour all that wine into a dog's belly? It made me so angry I wanted to stand up for Pinger. I thought it over for half a day—it was finally the auspicious day when 'dogs grow tail-tips'—but I was afraid Grandmother might take it badly, so I stayed away. And my anger still hasn't subsided. Now you've provoked me again today. I wouldn't pick up Pinger's shoes for you—the two of you ought to trade places!"

Everyone laughed.

Xifeng quickly said with a smile, "So you didn't come about poetry or painting at all—you've come to avenge Pinger! I never knew Pinger had such a powerful backer. If I'd known, even if a ghost had grabbed my hand and forced me to strike her, I wouldn't have done it. Miss Pinger, come here! Before the elder lady and all these young ladies, I apologize to you. Forgive me for my drunken misconduct."

As she spoke, everyone laughed again.

Li Wan asked Pinger with a smile, "Well? Didn't I say I'd stand up for you?"

Pinger replied, "Still, the ladies are teasing me—I can't bear it."

"What can't you bear? I'm here," Li Wan said. "Quick, take the keys and have your mistress open the storeroom to find those things."

Xifeng laughed, "Good sister-in-law, go back to the garden with them for now. I was just about to settle the accounts for the rice, but the elder Madame has sent someone to summon me again—I don't know what she wants to discuss, but I'll have to go over there. And then there are the New Year clothes you wanted to have replenished—I haven't got them ready to be made yet."

Li Wan laughed, "I don't handle any of these matters. Just finish what concerns me so I can rest. Otherwise all these young ladies will pester me."

Xifeng hurriedly laughed, "Good sister-in-law, grant me a little breathing room. You've always been the most kind to me—how is it that today, on account of P'ing-er, you won't be kind to me? In the past you used to urge me to take care of my health despite all the business, to pick my moments and steal some rest. Today you're the one driving me to my death! Besides, delaying other people's New Year clothes doesn't matter much, but if the young ladies' clothes are delayed, that will be on your head. Won't the old lady blame you for not taking care of things, and won't that ready-made remark just slip out? I'd rather take the blame myself—how dare I drag you into it?"

Li Wan laughed, "Listen to her—isn't that well said? The way she can talk! Let me ask you, are you going to manage this poetry club or not?"

Xifeng laughed, "What kind of talk is that? If I don't join the club and spend some money, won't I become a rebel in Prospect Garden? Do you think I'd still be able to eat here? Tomorrow morning I'll take up my post, bow to the seal upon arrival, and first set aside fifty taels of silver for you to use gradually as the club's host. After a few days, I won't be writing poems or essays—I'm merely a vulgar person. Whether I 'supervise' or don't 'supervise,' once the money's provided, you still want to drive me out!"

At this, everyone laughed again.

Xifeng said, "In a while I'll have the storerooms opened, and I'll have someone bring out all these things for you for inspection. If they're usable, keep them. If anything is lacking, just give me the list and I'll have someone buy them for you. I'll have the painting silk cut for you. The designs aren't with the lady—they're still over at Master Zhen's. I'm telling you this so you don't go running into a brick wall. I'll send someone to fetch them, and have them delivered along with the silk to the gentlemen to be sized. How about that?"

Li Wan nodded and laughed, "This puts you to trouble—if it can be done that way, then so be it. In that case, let's go home. If he doesn't send them over, we'll come back and pester him again." Saying this, she led the young ladies away.

Xifeng said, "There'd be no two people who could handle all this—it's all Baoyu who's created these complications."

Li Wan, hearing this, quickly turned back and laughed, "That's right, it's on Baoyu's account that we came—and I'd forgotten about him. The first meeting, he missed it. We're too soft-hearted. How do you think we should punish him?"

Xifeng thought for a moment and said, "There's no other way—just make him sweep the floors in each of your rooms."

Everyone laughed, "That's fair enough."

Just as they were about to leave, a young maid came in supporting old Nurse Lai. Xifeng and the others quickly stood up and laughed, "Sit down, Auntie." They all congratulated her.

Nurse Lai sat down on the edge of the kang and laughed, "I'm glad, and our masters are glad too. If it weren't for the masters' kindness, where would our joy come from? Yesterday the young mistress again sent Ts'ai-ko to bestow things upon us, and my grandson kowtowed toward the gate."

Li Wan laughed, "When is he going to take up his post?"

Nurse Lai sighed, "How can I manage them? I'll let them do as they please! The other day when he came home to kowtow to me, I had no kind words for him. I said, 'Elder Brother, don't think just because you're an official you can act like a tyrant! You've lived thirty years—yes, you were born a slave, but the moment you left your mother's womb, the master showed you grace and set you free. You've relied on the master's great fortune above and on your father and mother below; you've been reading and studying like a young gentleman, waited on hand and foot by maids, wives, and nurses like a phoenix being cradled—and you've grown up this way. Do you even know how the word 'slave' is written! You only know how to enjoy your blessings. You don't know the hardships your grandfather and father endured, struggling for two or three generations to bring forth someone like you. From childhood you've had one disaster after another—the silver spent on you would have made a silver statue of you! At twenty, you again received the master's grace and were allowed to purchase a position. Just look at how many rightful heirs go hungry and cold! You, a mere slave's brat—be careful not to squander your fortune! Now you've enjoyed ten years of happiness, and somehow by hook or by crook, you've begged the master and been selected again. A county magistrate may be a small official, but the responsibilities are great—as the magistrate of a prefecture, you are the father and mother of that entire region. If you don't keep to your duties, serve the state with loyalty, and honor your master, I'm afraid even Heaven won't tolerate you."

Li Wan and Xifeng both laughed, "You worry too much. We see that he's doing well enough. In earlier years he came in twice, but he hasn't come for several years now. At New Year and on his birthday, we only see his name on the list. The other day when he came to kowtow to the old lady and the lady, in the old lady's courtyard I saw him wearing his new official robes—he looked more imposing than before, and he's grown fatter too. Now that he's obtained an official post, you should be rejoicing—why do you instead worry about all this? If he does badly, there's still his father. Just enjoy your blessings. When you have leisure, ride in a sedan-chair and come in to spend a day playing cards and chatting with the old lady—who would have the heart to mistreat you? At home you have the same mansions and grand halls—who wouldn't respect you? Naturally you'll be treated like an old lady of rank."

Ping'er poured the tea, and Old Nurse Lai hastily stood up to receive it, laughing, "Miss, you need only have told some boy or girl to bring it. You've made me lose face by doing it yourself." As she sipped her tea, she continued, "You don't know, ma'am. These young servants must be kept strictly in hand. Even with all this strictness, they still find opportunities to make trouble and cause worry for their elders. Those who know will say it's just the children being naughty, but those who don't will say we rely on wealth and power to bully people—even sullying the master's reputation. It vexes me no end. The only thing that helps is to summon their fathers and give them a good scolding."

Then she pointed at Baoyu and said, "Don't think me rude. Nowadays the old master only manages to discipline you once in a while, because the Old Lady shields you. When the old master was young and received beatings from your grandfather, who didn't see it? When he was a boy, was he ever as utterly fearless as you are now? And then there was the Elder Master—mischievous though he was, he never made the kind of pest of himself you do. He got beaten every day too. And your Jia Zhen's grandfather over in the East Mansion—now there was a temper like fire doused with oil! When he got angry, he treated his own son like a criminal being interrogated. As for what I see and hear these day, it seems the Master Zhen manages his son much as the Old Ancestor did, though he's rather inconsistent about it. He doesn't even discipline himself—no wonder his brothers, nephews, and cousins don't fear him. If you understand and appreciate what I say, good. If not, you may not say anything out of politeness, but you'll be cursing me in your heart."

Just then, Lai Da's wife arrived, followed by Zhou Rui's wife and Zhang Cai's wife, all coming to report on various matters. Xifeng laughed, "The daughter-in-law has come to fetch her mother-in-law." Lai Da's wife said with a laugh, "I'm not here to fetch the old lady. I've come to find out whether the young ladies and madam will do us the honor."

Old Nurse Lai, hearing this, laughed, "How muddled I've been! I should have said what I came to say instead of rattling on about old millet and stale sesame. Since our boy has been selected, his relatives and friends want to congratulate him, so we must give a feast at home. I thought about it—if I invite one day, I don't know whom to invite and whom to leave out. Then I thought again: by the grace of our masters, we've achieved an honor we never dreamed of. Even if it bankrupts the family, I'd be willing. So I told his father to host three days of feasting. The first day, a few tables of food and a theatrical performance in our shabby garden, to invite the Old Lady, the ladies, the young madams, and the young ladies for a day of diversion. In the main hall outside, another theatrical performance and a few tables, to invite the masters and the young gentlemen and add to their glory. The second day, we'll invite relatives and friends. The third day, we'll invite the servants from both mansions. Three days of celebration—it's all thanks to our masters' grace, a chance for us to bask in the glory."

Li Wan and Xifeng both laughed, "When is the date? We'll certainly go, though whether the Old Lady feels inclined to go, we can't say."

Lai Da's wife quickly replied, "We've chosen the fourteenth. It all depends on madam's kind favor."

Xifeng said, "Others may not know, but I'll definitely go. Let me say first—I have no congratulatory gift, and I won't be giving rewards either. I'll eat my fill and leave. Don't laugh at me."

Lai Da's wife laughed, "What is madam saying? If madam were to bestow a reward, thirty or forty thousand taels of silver would do nicely."

Old Nurse Lai said with a laugh, "I've just been to invite the Old Lady, and she said she'll come too. So I suppose my face still counts for something."

After saying this, she gave a few more instructions before rising to leave. Seeing Zhou Rui's wife, something occurred to her, and she said, "There's one more thing I'd like to ask madam. What offense did this Mrs. Zhou's son commit, to be dismissed from service?"

Xifeng laughed, "I was just meaning to tell your daughter-in-law, but with so many things on my mind, I forgot. When you go home, tell your husband that the young man is not to be kept on in either mansion. Let him seek his own way elsewhere."

Lai Da-de had to agree. Zhou Rui's wife quickly knelt down and begged. Old Nurse Lai said, "What is it? Tell me so I can judge." Xifeng said, "The other day on my birthday, before the wine had even been served inside, that young scoundrel got drunk first. When gifts were sent from your side, instead of making arrangements outside, he sat there cursing people and didn't even bring the gifts in. When two women came in, he only then made the young pages carry them inside. The young pages were fine, but he dropped the box he was carrying and spilled mantou all over the courtyard. After people left, I sent Cai Ming to reprimand him, and he gave Cai Ming a scolding instead. Such a lawless, good-for-nothing bastard—why not drive him out!" Old Nurse Lai laughed and said, "I thought it was something serious. So it's just this. Now listen to me, Feng-jie: if he has done wrong, beat him, scold him, make him reform—but driving him out is absolutely out of the question. After all, he's not one of our household-born servants; he's Lady Xing's dowry servant. If you just drive him out, Lady Xing will lose face. In my view, you should give him a few boards to teach him a lesson for next time and keep him on. If not for his mother's sake, then for Lady Xing's." When Xifeng heard this, she said to Lai Da-de, "Since that's the case, give him forty strokes and forbid him to drink in the future." Lai Da-de agreed. Zhou Rui's wife kowtowed and got up, and was about to kowtow to Old Nurse Lai as well, but Lai Da-de held her back and that put an end to it. Then the three of them left, and Li Wan and the others also returned to the garden. That evening, Xifeng indeed had people find many old painting implements that had been put away and sent them to the garden. Baochai and the others selected them, and only half of the various items were usable. They made a list of the other half and gave it to Xifeng to purchase accordingly—no need to go into detail.

One day, the silk was sized outside and the preliminary sketches were brought in. Baoyu spent every day helping Xichun. Tanchun, Li Wan, Yingchun, Baochai, and the others also often went there to sit idly, both to view the paintings and because it was convenient for meeting. Baochai, finding that the weather had turned cool and the nights were growing longer, went to her mother's room to discuss preparing some needlework. During the day she paid two visits to Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang, inevitably sitting with them and chatting for a while, and she also spent time chatting with the sisters in the garden, so she had little free time during the day. Every night she did her needlework by lamplight and didn't go to sleep until the third watch. Daiyu always suffered from a cough after the spring and autumn equinoxes. This autumn, since Grandmother Jia was in high spirits, she had gone out to enjoy herself twice more than usual, which overexerted her spirits, and recently her cough had come back, feeling worse than usual. So she never left her room and just rested and recuperated. Sometimes when she felt bored, she hoped one of the sisters would come to chat and cheer her up, but when Baochai and the others came to visit her, after no more than a few words she would grow weary of them. Everyone sympathized with her illness and knew that she had always been delicate and could not endure any slight, so they did not fault her for shortcomings in hospitality or lapses in etiquette.

That day Baochai came to visit her and brought up her illness. Baochai said, "The several doctors who come here are all quite competent, but the medicine you take from them never seems to work. Why not invite a more skilled physician to examine you? Wouldn't it be good to be cured? Every year you have this trouble through spring and summer—you're neither old nor young, what kind of situation is this? It's not a permanent solution." Daiyu said, "It's no use. I know a sickness like mine can never be cured. Never mind the illness—just look at what I'm like on my good days, and you'll understand." Baochai nodded and said, "That's exactly right. The ancients said, 'Those who eat grain survive.' Yet what you eat daily cannot nourish your spirit and blood—that's not a good thing." Daiyu sighed and said, "'Life and death are decreed by fate; wealth and honor rest with Heaven'—these are not things human will can force. This year it seems even worse than previous years." As she spoke, she had already coughed two or three times. Baochai said, "Yesterday I looked at your prescription and thought the ginseng and cinnamon were too abundant. Although they benefit the qi and restore the spirit, they shouldn't be too heating. In my view, the first priority should be to calm the liver and strengthen the stomach. Once the liver fire is calmed, it cannot overcome the earth element, and with no illness in the stomach qi, food can then nourish the person. Every morning take one liang of the finest bird's nest and five qian of rock sugar, simmer it in a silver pot to make a porridge. If you get used to eating it, it will be even better than medicine—it's the most nourishing for yin and qi."

Daiyu sighed, "You've always been kind to others, truly. But I am the most suspicious person — I always thought you harbored hidden guile. The other day when you said reading miscellaneous books was no good, and gave me all that good advice, I was immensely grateful. All those years I was wrong — truly, I've only just realized my mistake. When I think about it carefully, my mother died early, and I have no sisters or brothers. I've turned fifteen this year, and not a single person until you spoke those words the other day has ever instructed me. No wonder Yun-toujie praises you — in the past, when I saw her commend you, I was displeased. But after what I experienced yesterday, I finally understand. For instance, if you had said those things, I would never have let you off lightly — yet you weren't offended at all, and instead gave me that advice. That shows I've been deceiving myself. If I hadn't realized it the other day, I wouldn't say this to you today. Just now you said I should eat bird's nest congee. Though bird's nest is easy to obtain, it's only because I've been unwell — I fall ill like this every year, and there's nothing seriously wrong. Seeing the doctor, decocting medicine, ginseng and cinnamon — it's already caused an upheaval. Now if I start some new fancy of brewing bird's nest congee, the Old Lady, Lady Wang, and Sister Feng might say nothing, but those servants and maids below would think me too troublesome. Look at the people here — because the Old Lady dotes so much on Baoyu and Sister Feng, they already glare with envy, gossiping behind their backs. How much more would they feel that about me? Besides, I'm not a proper mistress of this household — I came here with no one to rely on. They already resent me enough. If I don't know when to advance or retreat now, why should I give them cause to curse me?"

Baochai replied, "In that case, I'm just like you."

Daiyu said, "How can you compare with me? You have a mother, you have a brother. You have business and property here, and back home you still have your house and land. You're just a relative lodging here — all your expenses, large and small, cost them nothing. You can leave whenever you want. I have nothing at all. My food, clothing, every blade of grass and scrap of paper — all is the same as the young ladies of this family. How could those petty people not resent me even more?"

Baochai laughed, "In the end it'll just cost them one extra dowry. There's no need to worry about that now."

Daiyu flushed and smiled, "People have just started taking you seriously, telling you their troubles, and you make fun of me instead."

Baochai smiled, "Though I'm joking, it's also the truth. Rest assured — as long as I'm here, I'll keep you company every day. Whatever grievances or troubles you have, just tell me. Whatever I can resolve, I'll help you resolve it for a day. I do have a brother, as you know, but I only have a mother who's slightly better off than yours. We're fellow sufferers. You're a sensible person too — why make 'Sima Niu's lament'? What you said just now is right — better to have one less thing than one more. Tomorrow when I go home, I'll tell my mother. We probably have some at home — I'll send you a few ounces. Every day have the maids brew it for you. It's both cheaper and less of a fuss."

Daiyu said quickly, "The things themselves don't matter — what's rare is your thoughtfulness."

Baochai replied, "There's nothing to speak of! I only worry about failing in my attentions to everyone. I'm afraid you'll tire of me — I'll go for now."

Daiyu said, "Come again tonight and talk with me."

Baochai agreed and left — but that is another matter.

Here Daiyu drank two mouthfuls of thin congee and lay back down. Before the sun had set, the sky changed, and a fine drizzle began to fall. The autumn rain fell steadily, the weather shifting between dark and light. The sky gradually grew dusk, and heavy with darkness, while rain dripped from the bamboo tips — all the more desolate. Knowing Baochai would not come, she casually picked up a book by the lamp — it happened to be the *Miscellaneous Drafts of Yuefu Poetry*, containing poems like "Autumn Boudoir Lament" and "Parting Lament." Daiyu was moved by what she felt, and could not restrain herself from putting it into verse. She thus composed a poem titled "Parting in Place of Another," modeled after the style of "Spring River Flower Moon Night," and named it "Autumn Window, Wind and Rain, Evening." It read:

Autumn flowers are wan, autumn grass is yellow,

The autumn lamp glimmers, the autumn night is long.

Already the autumn window knows no end of autumn,

How much more when wind and rain add to the desolation!

The wind and rain that hasten autumn — how swiftly they come!

They shatter the green autumn dream at the autumn window.

Holding autumn sorrow, she cannot bear to sleep,

She moves her tearful candle to the autumn screen by herself.

The tearful candle flickers, burning the short lampstand,

Drawing out sorrow, illuminating grief, stirring feelings of parting.

Whose autumn courtyard has no wind entering?

What autumn window has no sound of rain?

The silk quilt cannot withstand the autumn wind's force,

The dying water-clock urges on the autumn rain's haste.

All night long the steady rain and soughing wind,

By the lamp, seeming to accompany a parted one's weeping.

The cold mist in the small courtyard turns desolate,

The sparse bamboo by the empty window drips ceaselessly.

Who knows when the wind and rain will cease?

Already they have taught tears to soak the window gauze.

Having finished reciting, she set down her pen and was about to retire when a maid reported, "Second Master Bao is here." Before the words were finished, Baoyu appeared wearing a large bamboo rain hat and a straw cape. Daiyu couldn't help laughing — "Where did this fisherman come from?"

Baoyu asked quickly, "Better today? Taken your medicine? How much did you eat today?" As he spoke, he removed the hat and took off the straw cape. Hastily he raised the lamp in one hand while shielding its light with the other, held it to Daiyu's face, squinted, and looked at her carefully, then smiled. "You look a bit better today."

Daiyu, having watched him remove the raincoat, saw that beneath it he wore only an old red silk short jacket, with a green sash tied around his waist, from which peeped sky-blue silk trousers embroidered with scattered flowers, and below those thick brocade socks with gold-threaded designs, on his feet a pair of butterfly-and-falling-flower shoes.

Daiyu asked, “Up above you're afraid of the rain, but aren't these shoes and socks down below afraid of the rain? They're awfully clean, though.” Baoyu laughed, “This whole outfit is complete. I even have a pair of clogs made of cherry wood—I'd just put them on when I came, but I left them on the verandah.” Daiyu then noticed that the raincoat and bamboo hat were not the ordinary kind sold in the market; they were remarkably fine and light. “What sort of grass are they woven from?” she asked. “No wonder you don't look like a hedgehog when you put them on.”

“All three things were given to me by Prince Beijing,” Baoyu said. “When he has free time and it rains, he wears the same outfit at home. If you like this, I'll get a set made for you too. The rest don't matter, but this bamboo hat is the cleverest thing—it's actually alive, you might say. The top part is removable. When it snows in winter, you pull out the bamboo peg, take off the top, and only the rim is left. In snow, both men and women can wear it. I'll give you one for wearing when it snows in winter.”

Daiyu laughed, “I don't want it. If I put that on, I'd look just like the old fisherwoman in a painting or on the stage.” The moment the words left her mouth, she realized she hadn't weighed them carefully, and that they connected with what she had just said about Baoyu. Too late for regrets, she flushed crimson with shame and threw herself across the table, coughing uncontrollably.

Baoyu, however, paid no attention. Seeing some poems on the desk, he picked them up and read through them, unable to help exclaiming in praise. Daiyu, hearing this, hastily jumped up and snatched them from his hand, holding them over the lamp to burn them. Baoyu laughed, “I've already memorized them. Burning them won't make any difference.”

“I'm much better now,” Daiyu said. “Thank you for coming to see me several times today, and even coming in the rain. It's late at night now, and I need to rest. Please go back for now and come again tomorrow.”

At this, Baoyu reached into his bosom and pulled out a gold watch the size of a walnut. He glanced at it—the hands pointed between the hours of Xu and Hai—and quickly tucked it away again. “I should rest now anyway,” he said. “I've tired you out for half the day with all this disturbance.” So saying, he put on the raincoat and hat and went out, but turned back at the door to ask, “What would you like to eat? Tell me, and I'll let Grandmother know first thing tomorrow morning. Wouldn't that be clearer than having the old women pass the message?”

Daiyu smiled, “I'll think of something tonight and tell you tomorrow morning. Listen to the rain—it's coming down harder. Hurry up and go. Is anyone following you?”

Two old women answered, “Yes, they're outside with an umbrella and a lantern.”

Daiyu laughed, “In this weather they're lighting a lantern?”

“It's all right,” Baoyu said. “It's made of transparent shell—it doesn't mind the rain.”

Hearing this, Daiyu reached up to the bookshelf and took down a glass lantern shaped like an embroidered ball. She ordered a small candle to be lit and handed it to Baoyu. “This one is brighter than that, and it's meant for use in the rain.”

Baoyu said, “I have one too, but I was afraid they'd slip and break it, so I didn't have it lit.”

“Is a broken lamp worth more than a broken person?” Daiyu said. “And you're not used to wearing clogs anyway. Let them carry the lantern ahead to light the way. This one is both lighter and brighter—it's meant to be carried in the rain by yourself. Wouldn't it be better if you held this one yourself? You can bring it back tomorrow. Even if you dropped it, the damage would be limited. Why do you suddenly turn into one of those people who 'cut open their belly to hide a pearl'?”

Baoyu quickly took it from her. The two old women went ahead holding umbrellas and carrying the transparent-shell lantern, and two young maids followed behind with umbrellas. Baoyu handed the lamp to one of the young maids to carry, and supporting her on the shoulder, went off.

Then an old woman from Alpinia Park also came, carrying an umbrella and a lamp, delivering a large packet of the finest bird's nests along with a package of pure powdered plum-flower crystal sugar. “This is better than what you can buy,” she said. “The young lady said: Please start eating this first, miss, and I'll send more when you've finished.”

“Go back and say 'thank you for your trouble,'” Daiyu told her, and ordered that she be seated outside and given tea.

The old woman laughed, “I won't have tea, I still have business to attend to.”

Daiyu smiled, “I know you're all busy. The weather is getting cold now and the nights are getting longer—all the more reason to hold a night session and have a good gamble or two.”

The old woman laughed, “To tell you the truth, miss, I've been doing very well this year. In any case, there are people on night duty in every place each night, and if they miss the watch change it's not good. So we hold a night gambling session—we sit through the watch change and we pass the time. Tonight I'm the banker. Now that the garden gate is closed, it's time to begin.”

Daiyu laughed when she heard this, “How hard you work. I've kept you from getting rich, making you come through the rain.” She ordered that she be given a few hundred cash to buy some wine and ward off the damp.

The old woman smiled, “You're too generous, miss, giving me money for wine.” She kowtook, took the money, and went out with her umbrella.

Zijuan put away the bird's nests, then moved the lamp and lowered the curtain, attending to Daiyu as she lay down. Daiyu lay on her pillow, thinking gratefully of Baochai, envying her for having a mother and a brother, while also reflecting that although Baoyu had always been on good terms with her, there was always something questionable between them. Then she heard the sound of the rain dripping on the bamboo tips and withered leaves outside the window, the chill of the clear night penetrating the curtain, and without realizing it, tears began to fall again. Not until the fourth watch was drawing to a close did she gradually fall asleep. Let us leave her for now. To know what happens next, read the following chapter.